St. Davids, PA: Back when the study and manipulation of electrons were in their youth, Conrad (“Connie”) J. Fowler turned those opportunities and the discipline to master them into a thriving business, AEL Industries Inc. The company designed and manufactured electronic, radar, microwave and related equipment as well as a variety of aircraft products for commercial and governmental markets.
Connie was a strong family man. He and his late wife, Judy (nee Basala), had two daughters, Janet (Richard) Gray and Deborah Rollins. Connie enjoyed his four granddaughters and six great-grandchildren.
Eastern University benefited greatly from Connie’s personal and professional interests. Among those was his fascination with astronomy. Dr. David Bradstreet introduced Connie to our observatory and the program that brings into Hubble Telescope-quality focus the wonders of God’s universe for our students. For more than 24 years, Connie was one of our astronomy department’s staunchest and most loyal advocates and supporters. In fact, he always encouraged us to build a larger, better planetarium to make it easier for students to reach for the stars and planets.
Connie’s support of the University was both deep and wide. In addition to his interests in our astronomy program and observatory, the Templeton Honors College captured his imagination, and its students benefited from his generosity.
Over the years, Connie gave new meaning to the concept of aging gracefully. As the increasingly intractable effects of advancing years became more present in Connie’s life, he never complained. In fact, he demonstrated what it means to be a real man of God—someone who turned his personal and economic success into enduring significance for the benefit of others.
Dr. Bradstreet said it best: “Connie was a gentle, loving and brilliant Christian…who, through his phenomenal generosity, allowed us to reach thousands of students and adults…and countless planetarium attendees.…”
We are most certainly poorer for Connie’s loss, but the lives of the University family are immeasurably richer and more fulfilled because of the life, love, faith and pursuit of excellence this extraordinary gentleman presented for each and every one of his 96 years.
A memorial service to honor Connie’s life will be held on Saturday, October 7th, at Normandy Farms Estates, at 11 a.m..
